Chapter 4

The emcee stepped back onto the stage, his voice even brighter than before.

"Next, let's continue to witness this couple's moment of happiness."

Arnold stood beside me.

There was a faint crease on his cuff, left there when he'd steadied Lucinda earlier.

Lucinda had withdrawn beside the flower wall, still clutching the program sheet to her chest.

The emcee held the tray out to Arnold.

"Please, the groom will place the ring on the bride's finger."

Arnold picked up the woman's ring.

The lights glinted along the inner band.

My name was pressed under the pad of his finger, only the last letter showing.

Every gaze in the room settled on my hand.

"Just put it on."

"With all these relatives here, it would look terrible not to go through with the engagement."

"A girl can be jealous, sure, but she shouldn't wreck the whole thing."

Arnold reached his hand toward me.

"That was about enough just now."

"Put the ring on first, and I'll explain later."

"I've already had Lucinda step aside."

"Give me a way out."

I looked at that ring.

Then I looked at where my parents were sitting.

Then at the program sheet in Lucinda's arms.

"You explain it to them."

Arnold forced down the impatience in his eyes.

"Do you really have to drag up old grudges up here on the stage?"

Lucinda suddenly spoke.

"Arnold, maybe we should just let it go."

"I really did wear the ring last night, so it's normal for Sybilla to mind."

"Don't fight with her over me."

Arnold's face went cold at once.

"You hear that?"

"Even now she's still thinking of you."

He grabbed my hand again.

Harder than before.

"Sybilla, there are so many people here today. Can't you be a little more reasonable?"

A few people in the audience nodded along.

"Arnold's already gone this far to smooth it over."

"The ring ends up on your finger in the end, doesn't it? Isn't that enough?"

Arnold's mother spoke up too.

"Sybilla, this has gone far enough for one day."

"The elders are all here. Leave Arnold a little face."

My mom started to rise, but my dad pressed her hand down.

He looked at Arnold on the stage, no longer smiling.

Lucinda didn't step forward; she only gripped the program sheet tighter.

Arnold lowered his voice.

"Hold out your hand."

My dad stood up right then.

Arnold still didn't turn around.

His eyes were only on the ring in my hand, and on Lucinda by the flower wall with her red eyes.

I raised my hand and took the ring from between his fingers.

Not to put it on.

To set it back on the tray.

The emcee's smile froze.

Arnold froze too.

I took the microphone.

A short burst of static crackled.

The room fell completely silent.

"Sorry to make you all come out here for nothing today."

Arnold's expression changed.

"Sybilla!"

I didn't look at him.

"I'm not wearing the ring."

"And the rest of the program isn't necessary either."

The emcee instinctively looked to Arnold.

Arnold reached out to snatch the microphone.

I stepped back.

"This engagement is off."

A page slid loose from the program sheet in Lucinda's arms.

The paper drifted to the floor and stopped at my feet.

The last line on it read:

The couple exchanges rings, then guests gather for photos.

I glanced down at it.

"I don't want a ring someone else has already tried on."

Arnold finally panicked.

"Don't do something rash."

"I'll explain about the ring."

I put the microphone back in the emcee's hand.

"Whoever you let decide the next step just now, let them go on with it."

At last, none of the relatives in the audience tried to talk me down.

Arnold's mother stood up, her face terribly grim.

Lucinda bent to pick up the program sheet, but her fingers trembled.

The page fell open, and my name was there on the second line.

Crossed out in red pen, with "pending" written in beside it.

I didn't pick it up.

Arnold reached out to pull me back.

"Sybilla, don't joke about the engagement."

I put my hands behind my back.

"I'm completely serious."

I stepped around the program sheet and walked down off the stage.

My parents stood up as well.

My mother's eyes were very red, but she didn't cry here.

My dad steadied her and went ahead of me, clearing away the people blocking the end of the red carpet.

This time, at last, someone made way for me.

Behind me, the emcee didn't dare say another word.

That ring stayed on the tray.

This time, no one dared hand it to me again.